Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/165

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ON THE HISTORY AND REMAINS OF THE FRANCISCAN FRIERY, READING.

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THE WEST WINDOW

At the north-west extremity of the town of Reading, stands what was formerly the house of the Friers Minors. It was a religious foundation of the order of St. Francis, which was introduced into England in 1224, the eighth year of Henry III.[1], and was founded in Reading in 1233.

By a deed dated that year[2] July 14, Adam de Lathbury then abbot, and the convent of Reading granted to the Friers Minors in Reading, "a certain piece of waste ground near the king's highway leading to Caversham bridge, containing thirty-three perches in length, and twenty-three in breadth, with a permission to build and dwell there so long as they should continue without acquiring any property of their own:"—

  1. Leland's Collectanea, vol. iii. p. 341.
  2. Cotton Library, Vespasian. F. 26.